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Now Showing on Cable: “Scream 4”

Debuting this weekend on Showtime was “Scream 4”, Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven’s return to Woodsboro. Ten years after “Scream 3”, all the key principals reunite in order to see if they can resuscitate the dormant horror franchise.

The “Scream” franchise has always been known for being a self-aware genre critique. The original’s clever script and rising-star cast turned it into a modern horror classic. The sequel was a worthy one, continuing the “meta” trend by turning the commentary to sequels. The third, however, was an abominable disappointment, drawing scorn from critics and underperforming the previous installments. Essentially, “Scream 3” ended the franchise… til now.

But was Woodsboro worth returning to?

“Scream 4” finds heroine Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) returning to her home town as a stop on her book signing tour. Sidney has come to grips with her past and written a book about moving beyond her experiences as a victim. However, the book tour stop coincides with the 15th anniversary of the murders and as if on queue, the murders begin again as soon as she arrives. Returning to town also brings her into contact with series stalwarts Sheriff Dewey (David Arquette) and Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox). Sidney and Gale still have plenty of baggage to work through, but the fact that Ghostface is on the prowl again puts the emphasis on trying to stop the killings.

As we’re reintroduced to the old dramas, we’re also introduced to a new class of Woodsboro high school students, including Sidney’s young cousin, Jill (Emma Roberts). Of course, the majority of them are simply bodies to be thrown on the pyre. As in all “Scream” movies, this generation of Woodsboro High students are obsessed with horror movies, but by this point in time, the movie series within the movie series – “Stab” – has grown to be an entire franchise, so they can focus their horror movie adulation exclusively on it.

That fits right in with the self-obsessed nature of the film. The “Commentary” in this episode briefly touches on the endless nature of sequels, but mainly focuses on social media and people’s endless appetite for documenting and sharing their own experiences. Characters wield mini-cams, live video-blogging the events as they unfold. Other characters, in turn, stream the feed on their phones. The killer is recording things as well. Everyone in this movie is recording. The “Meta” commentary has amplified itself to the point where it’s now commenting on “Meta” commentaries.

Unfortunately, none of it comes together. The “commentary” here feels forced, like it was something inserted out of obligation to the requirements of the series as opposed to anything that anyone actually wanted to say. The kill scenes are fine, with Ghostface being his same old flailing, falling, phone-calling self. As is typical with a “Scream” movie though, the wheels completely come off once Ghostface removes the mask and the killer tries to explain their motivation. This particular reveal is convoluted, non-sensical and arbitrary. I also didn’t care for a good portion of the new cast, particularly Emma Roberts. I found her sadly lacking as the secondary lead. She’s not alone though, I really didn’t connect with any of the new kids.

I’m a big fan of “Scream” and “Scream 2”, so I had hopes for this one. Unfortunately, it let me down.

33 thoughts on “Now Showing on Cable: “Scream 4””

I kind of felt that as the sequels progressed, the franchise just sort of turned into what it was originally lampooning. The first one was amazingly clever and I really haven’t had the same feelings towards the series since. Cabin in the Woods gave me that Scream 1 feeling though. Let’s hope they don’t follow that one up!

I actually don’t like any of the Scream movies (yes, I watched all of them regardless), but that’s just a personal bias of mine: I can’t stand clever horror movies. I can’t explain why; they just irritate me.

For me this is the little engine that almost gets there but putters out in the last thirty minutes and ends up being something of a drag. It’s so close to saying what it wants to say! And I’ll vouch for the cast, for the most part; they’re solid. They’re just working with material that doesn’t push as hard as it needs to in order to attain relevance or say something meaningful– or even be all that scary. I think part of the problem when you’re telling the same joke four times is one of inevitability; it’s impossible for it to maneuver without becoming self-satirizing and completely undercutting its own horror. So the movie never really delivers on what it needs to.

I actually kinda liked this one. Nothing groundbreaking or original in any way but it kept me guessing until the end. I guess I enjoyed it more just because I haven’t seen a Scream movie in like a decade or something ahah

There are movies that my position is set in stone in and I’d be very dismissive of other people, or hard to budge in my own opinion… this isnt one of them at all. If you like it, thats great I dont HATE it or anything, I just thought it was weak.

Plus, unless there’s “Overhyping” involved (LOL) I never mind if people like movies more than I do. I love it when people enjoy movies, thats why we all love talking about them so much, theyre so much fun.

Set in stone, eh… I bet As Good As It Gets is one of them. I finally saw it a few months ago. Don’t shoot me but I’m not a big Nicholson fan but in this movie he did/fit SO well and everything else about it was delightful too.

Since I live in a bubble I had no idea if Scream 4 got any hype so as a casual watch I enjoyed it. Yes, I hate it when people hype things up. Despite my Yoda sensors I occasionally fall prey to sensationalism and watch things I know I will regret = Transformers 1, Avatar.